In 2024, over a quarter of minors in Italy—26.7%—are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This is according to the new ISTAT data, "Living Conditions of Minors Under 16", which offers a troubling image, particularly in Southern Italy, where the percentage reaches 43.6%. This reality reveals how economic insecurity continues to disproportionately affect children and young people, particularly in the South and on the islands. Family context is quite important: in households with only one child, the risk is 18.1%, but it climbs to 26.2% when more minors are present. In households with a single parent, the percentage of at-risk minors increases significantly: 38.3% of minors are at risk, a figure that surpasses the 50% threshold (53.3%) when there are multiple children. Despite a slight improvement over 2021—a three-percentage-point decrease nationwide—the phenomenon remains concerning, particularly because the severity of poverty is worsening: the total number of children experiencing material and social deprivation is decreasing, but those who do are experiencing greater hardship. More than half (51.6%) of children in this condition show at least six markers of deprivation, compared to 36.2% three years ago. Another concerning issue is food insecurity, which affects nearly 5% of children, with a noticeable geographical disparity: in Southern Italy, the figure is 8.9%, well exceeding the national average (4.9%) and significantly higher than that observed in Northern Italy (3.1%) and Central Italy (2.1%). Foreign children are even more vulnerable: 43.6% of them are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, a figure that rises to 78.2% in Southern Italy, while it stands at 40.9% among their Italian counterparts. However, nearly half of the children in need (49.2%) are Italian nationals who live in the South, demonstrating that the issue is not restricted to migrant families. The research also emphasizes the burden of housing costs: 22.7% of families with children under 16 have a mortgage (more than double the national average), while 23.6% pay rent, compared to 18.4% of all households. These costs exacerbate the fragility that is characteristic of the early phases of the family life cycle, making it more difficult to provide children with a stable present and a secure future. The Italian statistic, while lower than the European average for material and social deprivation (11.7% versus 13.6%), represents a critical concern for public policy. Because, as ISTAT emphasizes, economic conditions during infancy are a determining factor in the risk of poverty even in adulthood. And, for far too many youngsters, that risk has already become reality.